I stared at him.
He didn't move. Just stood there, looking in my direction. Not like a wild animal, not like a dumb goblin with a toothy grin. His eyes were narrowed. He was waiting. Analyzing.
This wasn't just another monster.
This was a hunter.
And I was his prey.
Cunning Goblin (Level 3).
Almost as tall as me. Thick green skin stretched tight over powerful muscles. In both hands — short, curved blades, their edges gleaming darkly, as if coated with poison. He ran his tongue along one of them and let out a raspy laugh.
"Perfect," I whispered, activating the skill. "Hide."
One of my imps vanished in a flicker of demonic light. I used Demonic Sea of Summoning for the first time, and it melted soundlessly into the darkness. The second one clung to my shadow, ready.
I didn't know how he would fight.
But I already felt it: this wouldn't be a brawl I could win by brute force.
The goblin lunged forward.
No warning.
No sound.
Just a short, sharp burst — like a fired bullet.
"Summon!" I shouted, and the second imp tore itself from the air.
Both of them charged into the attack, and the battle began.
The goblin moved with lightning speed, his strikes landing with terrifying precision — aiming for joints, neck, under the ribs. My imps fought back, but he dodged, deflected, countered.
He was playing with them.
"Left!" I shouted, pointing to where the attack should come, and one imp darted around to flank him, while the other went straight for the chest.
Blades flashed — a slash to the gut, then a vicious cut upwards — and the first imp screamed, dissolving into mist.
"One down…" I gritted my teeth.
The remaining imp leapt onto the goblin's back, trying to slash at his neck, but the goblin slammed himself into the wall, crushing my summon against the concrete with a sickening crunch.
"Summon!" I screamed, feeling my body jerk with weakness.
My HP was dropping fast, my hands trembling, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it would tear free of my chest.
Another imp appeared — almost at the same instant that the goblin's blade sliced across my side.
"Agh…" I gasped and stumbled back.
A searing line of fire tore from my ribs down to my waist.
He'd landed a hit.
I retreated, but he gave me no time.
Another strike — aimed straight for my heart.
But just before the blade could pierce me, the newly summoned imp threw itself between us.
No hesitation.
It simply stood there.
The blow struck its head dead-on. It vanished into mist, but the blade never reached me.
I was still alive.
And for the first time since all this madness began… I felt something close to rage.
They weren't just summons.
I had created them.
They were simple creatures, yes — mindless, wordless — but they were a part of me.
And he was cutting them down like garbage.
"You bastard…" I whispered.
I surged forward. No technique. No finesse. Just raw fury, the metal pipe gripped in both hands.
He sneered, knowing my strength wouldn't be enough — but in that instant, I snarled:
"10 points into Strength. You're dead, you bastard!"
The moment I spoke, I felt a surge of power in my arms.
And I struck downward — all my fury, all my hatred — straight into his jaw.
Crack.
The goblin's head snapped back, blood spraying the walls, the floor, my face.
He collapsed to his knees, choking, trying to rise.
"Stay down," I hissed.
Another blow.
And another.
Until he stopped moving altogether.
I stood over him, pipe still in my hands, barely able to keep my balance.
My ears were ringing.
My chest throbbed with pain.
I could feel the blood flowing down my side.
Victory!
Slain: Cunning Goblin (Level 3)
Gained: 140 EXP, 50 coins
You have reached Level 3!
HP +25 | MP +25
Free stat points: +10
Choose your reward:
— 20 stat points
— +25 HP and MP
— 100 coins
— Random weapon
— Random skill
I didn't choose anything.
I simply closed the notification and stood there.
Standing atop the corpse.
Shoulders slumped.
Chest heaving.
The air in the hallway was thick with blood, stale and heavy.
My body trembled with exhaustion, but inside me, a fire was slowly beginning to burn.
This had been my first true battle.
And I survived.